NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING STRENGTHENED IN BEDFORDSHIRE
- Named and contactable officers now in every neighbourhood in Bedfordshire as police start to deliver government commitment
- Communities across Bedfordshiregetting guaranteed response from local officers, ending nationwide postcode lottery
- Summer blitz kickstarts return of visible policing to high streets
Named, contactable officers are now in place across every neighbourhood in Bedfordshire, providing a more direct link between the public and police to tackle crime.
Tasked with restoring a connection with the communities they serve, these dedicated officers will provide a guaranteed response for local concerns and enquiries.
Bedfordshire Police are also now holding regular public meetings to give residents and businesses a voice on the issues they face, in addition to a dedicated antisocial behaviour lead delivering tailored action plans to tackle these concerns.
This is a key milestone in the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee – a flagship commitment in the government’s central Plan for Change – aimed at returning visible policing to communities after years of decline. The number of people who regularly see police patrolling in their local area has halved in the past decade, while shoplifting has soared to record levels across the country and latest statistics show 10,816 ASB incidents in Bedfordshire.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
“Communities are sick of the antisocial behaviour and shop theft blighting their town centres. There are too many neighbourhoods across the country who simply do not feel safe.
“A connection between the police and public has been lost for too long but restoring visible officers to our streets and giving communities a proper named contact will rebuild those bonds with the communities they serve.
“The work forces have done so far under this government’s Plan for Change to restore trusted neighbourhood policing is already making a clear difference. We are now ending the postcode lottery of policing and ensuring every single community has a voice to make their streets safer.”
The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee is also now delivering increased patrols in town centres and other hotspot areas across Bedfordshire, including places such as Bedford, Luton and Dunstable, using local intelligence to protect their high streets from shop theft and violence.
This has been kickstarted by the Home Secretary’s Safer Streets Summer Initiative, with six towns across the region joining over 500 nationwide in a coordinated blitz on town centre crime and antisocial behaviour.
And to ensure Bedfordshire Police gets the support it needs to keep its streets safe, 38 additional neighbourhood officers will be joining neighbourhood policing teams by Spring next year. This means up to 3,000 more officers and PCSOs in neighbourhood policing across all police forces in England and Wales.
Bedfordshire Police’s three-day operation in Luton town centre shows the neighbourhood policing guarantee delivering visible results. Led by Detective Inspector Emma Huggett, Operation Rovik targeted robbery and drug-related crime through high-visibility patrols and plain clothes operations.
Officers from the force’s Community Enforcement Team made five arrests, and seized £1000 in cash, four knives and drugs. Over the last month, the force’s bolstered response to neighbourhood crime has resulted in 58 arrests, six knives seized, and 1,205 community engagements in Luton alone. Residents can contact their named neighbourhood officer through the Bedfordshire Police website or follow local Community Policing Facebook pages for updates on local priorities.
Chief Superintendent Jaki Whittred, who oversees community policing for the whole of Bedfordshire, said:
“Neighbourhood policing remains at the heart of our commitment to keeping Bedfordshire safe. Our named officers, made up of dedicated PCs and PCSOs, are embedded in communities across our towns and villages. Their contact details are now easily accessible via our website, and residents can see the real difference these teams are making every day by following their local Community Policing Facebook page or joining BedsConnected.
“Through our regular engagements with residents, businesses, and local groups, we’re ensuring that local priorities such as tackling anti-social behaviour, drug-related crime or retail theft are being addressed. Our officers are working closely #TogetherForBedfordshire with our partners including the Police and Crime Commissioner and local authorities to deliver lasting solutions that reflect what matters most to the public we serve.
“This summer, our Safer Streets initiative is delivering targeted patrols during peak times in town centres. This has resulted in over 100 arrests, 61 stop and searches, 72 Public Spaces Protection Orders and 169 fines issued. These high-visibility patrols are already helping to reduce crime and increase public confidence, making our streets safer for everyone, whether you’re socialising, shopping, commuting or working.”
John Tizard, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner said:
“This summer, we are beginning to see the difference a visible policing presence on our streets can make. By stepping up patrols, and working closely with our community partners the early results indicate that we are seeing promising results.
“In towns like Luton, where there is a genuine partnership, the impact has been clear – with more officers on the ground, strong local engagement, and targeted action.
“I’m committed to ensuring this work maintains momentum across the county over the summer.”
The APCC’s Joint Leads on Local Policing, Chris Nelson (Gloucestershire PCC) and Matt Storey (Cleveland PCC) said:
“We know that visible and accessible local policing is a priority for communities, so we are pleased to see the progress forces are making in delivering the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, designed to strengthen community policing and create safer, more connected neighbourhoods.
“Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales are leading and supporting the ongoing Safer Streets Summer Initiative, highlighting important work being done in collaboration with local partners. PCCs look forward to the insight data from this summer’s initiative will bring, helping to create an evidence base of what is most effective in driving tangible change for the better.”
John Hayward-Cripps, Chief Executive, Neighbourhood Watch said:
“This initiative reflects what many Neighbourhood Watch members want: responsive policing that prioritises local relationships. This is so important because people stop reporting issues when they don’t have confidence that something will be done. We know that successful community policing takes time. Having named and contactable officers is an extremely positive step, the most effective neighbourhood policing models combine targeted approaches with genuine community engagement.
“Working with communities as partners rather than passive recipients, should deliver the visible, community-based policing that not only keeps people safer, but builds confidence and encourages all of us to play an active role in our communities. “
Rebecca Bryant, Resolve CEO said:
“At Resolve, we strongly welcome the rollout of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, particularly its renewed focus on tackling anti-social behaviour. The appointment of dedicated ASB leads and tailored local action plans reflects growing recognition of the long-term harm caused by persistent disruption.
“This initiative marks a positive step towards safer, more resilient neighbourhoods by placing community voices at the heart of local policing and also backing that up with guaranteed officer presence and swift response. We look forward to supporting forces and partners to ensure that these commitments are felt on the ground where they matter most.”
This article is a from a press release from the Crime and Policing department of the Home Office
You can find your local crime statistics by going to Visit Your area | Bedfordshire Police and enter a postcode to see the latest information on neighbourhood officers and contact details.
More information about the Summer Blitz can be found here
